The Lazcano family enjoys burgers for lunch after taking a break from moving Alex, right, a sophomore, into Florida State University for the semester Monday, August 19, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Diners, some taking a break from moving into Florida State University for the semester, enjoy a late lunch around 2 p.m. at Spear It: Legendary Food & Spirits Monday, August 19, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Server Zoe Harris takes the lunch order of the Lazcano family, as they take a break from spending the morning moving Alex, left, a sophomore, into Florida State University for the semester Monday, August 19, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Spear It: Legendary Food & Spirits Manager Kyle Flowers, left and Owner Mike Smith pose for a photo in front of the popular Florida State University mural on the wall inside the Seminoles-themed restaurant Monday, August 19, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

You’d be hard-pressed to find a Tallahassee restaurant with more Seminole spirit than Spear It: Legendary Food & Spirits on Tennessee Street.

For starters, the name certainly pays tribute to Florida State University and Chief Osceola. When you arrive in the parking lot, check out the replica of the flaming spear that’s slammed into Bobby Bowden Field right before kickoff. Step inside, and the walls are decorated with photos and artwork that honor the Seminole tribe and the university.

Spear It offers six burgers, many with elaborate toppings, served with fresh.(Photo: Tallahassee Table)

The Seminole theme isn’t a big surprise given the restaurant’s proximity to campus, yet this is spirit done tastefully. The place isn’t plastered with sports memorabilia, for instance, and while it has a bar and TVs, I don’t think they dominate the restaurant.

The interior, with room for about 150, has a clean, classy look and relaxed atmosphere, with lots of booths and gleaming wood floors. The patio is pet friendly.

But there’s another reason for the theme: Owner Mike Smith is a 1991 FSU graduate who studied hospitality at the university. His daughter is also a student.

“I graduated nearly 30 years ago and I’ve been in the restaurant business ever since,” Smith said.

He launched Spear It in 2016, totally renovating the building. In past lives, the structure had been home to Tomahawk Sports Bar and Loop.

“I remember when it was a Hardee’s,” said Smith. “People come here and say they didn’t know there was something like this here.”

Spear It is a prime destination for students and visiting parents, but it’s also a venue that deserves a much wider audience.

My husband and I have been to Spear It a few times with friends, and during each visit we all agreed that it’s an easily missed destination if you don’t live or work in the area and you’re just driving by.

Spear It can easily be a go-to choice whether you’re out with friends, a date or family.

The selection is far-ranging so you can likely please everyone at your table. There are the not-surprising, over-the-top items like the Nachos Legendarios, the Freshman 15 burger and Sophomore Slump sundae as well as more crowd-pleasing soups, salads, bowls, sandwiches (including a shrimp po’ boy) and entrees that include meatloaf, salmon, steak and roast chicken.

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Server Zoe Harris takes the lunch order of the Lazcano family, as they take a break from spending the morning moving Alex, left, a sophomore, into Florida State University for the semester Monday, August 19, 2019. (Photo: Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Prices are reasonable with all dishes under $20.

We were hooked at the start when we came across craft cocktails like the pear and elderflower Collins and raspberry Cosmopolitan. The bar also makes a killer sangria (blackberry or peach). On the list of local craft beers: Proof’s 850 and Mango Wit, Deep Brewing Company’s Spear Pressure and from Apalachicola, Oyster City Brewing Company’s Mills Pond Dirty Blonde and Hooter Brown Ale.

You could easily graze here, sharing appetizers like nachos Legendarios, wings, shrimp tacos or the hummus plate with grilled flatbread.

Spear It offers six burger choices, served on brioche rolls with a side of fries, but the biggest is the $15 Freshman 15, a reference to the number of pounds a typical first-year student allegedly gains.

Spear It: Legendary Food & Spirits is located at the corner of Tennessee and North Copeland streets in Tallahassee. (Photo: Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Our young friend methodically worked his way through the entire burger, and especially liked the chicken tenders. When I asked him later how it was, he said thoughtfully, “it was almost too much.” Makes me wonder what would be too much.

Another friend had the Bash Burger, which is somewhat less decadent. The cheeseburger is paired with a fried mac ‘n cheese patty, cheese sauce and cherry pepper ranch over a cheeseburger. The patty was perfectly cooked and juicy and, as for the fried mac ‘n cheese patty, do we ever stop loving mac ‘n cheese? I don’t think so.

I have to confess that I was jealous and ordered the mac ‘n cheese nuggets. They’re made on premises and darn good.

On another visit, we enjoyed a more sensible veggie burger which gets extra zip from a soy-ginger glaze and a hearty portion of Cajun pasta with grilled chicken.

As for salads, a friend liked her Steakhouse Bleu, which brings a generous serving of wood-grilled tenderloin over mixed greens with a rich blue cheese dressing, bacon, tomatoes and red onion.

For a lighter salad, consider the Harvest Fresh with grilled chicken paired with greens, quinoa, roasted tomatoes and grilled peppers.

Bowls are another highlight. You can customize your choice, picking the base, protein, a few toppings and sauce. I chose the grilled shrimp, flavorful and perfectly cooked with a hint of oak and pecan, plus black beans, basmati rice and corn, garnished with avocado. It was a generous serving, and a reasonable $14.50. Other toppings include roasted vegetables, grilled sweet peppers and garlic broccoli.

On Sundays, stop by Spear It for brunch and bottomless mimosas. Their French toast is a treat, served with blueberries, strawberries and a tuft of whipped cream or go for a savory breakfast burger, made with Bradley’s sausage and Angus beef patty. The chicken and doughnuts combo is a far more decadent dish than chicken and waffles. Trust me.

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A table of Florida State University students enjoy a late lunch at Spear It: Legendary Food & Spirits Monday, August 19, 2019. (Photo: Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

We shared these doughnuts for dessert and they are delicious — light, fluffy and plentiful. You get a stack of about 10, dusted in cinnamon sugar and served with small cups of sea salt caramel, homemade chocolate sauce and coffee whipped cream for dipping.

Nefetari's Owners Sharon Ames-Dennard and Dana Dennard recently announced that on June 30, they will be closing the restaurant as it is now, opening for special events and pop-ups in the future. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat